Handlamp switch



(. D. GALLAGHER.

HANDLAMP SWITCH. APPLlcATloN min Nov. 22. 1919.

Patented June 13, 1922..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE D. GALLAGHER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY,`

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

on New HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A

HANDLAMP SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Ifatent. Patented J 11119 13, 1922.

Application ktiled. November22, 1919. Serial No. 339,795.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. GALLAGHER, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and usefulImproveniente in Handlamp Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

.The present invention relatesto portable lamps of a character comprisingk a battery and a small incandescent electric lampi with a switch suitably positioned to control the flow ot current from said battery through said lamp.

In devices oi this general character, it is desirable that the operator be able to flash the lamp, that is to say, light it momentarily as in signaling, or for such short periods of time as it is convenient tor the operator to hold his thumb on the switch mechanism. It isalso desirable that the contact device be so arranged as to give a permanent or' continual lighting of the lamp without the need for continuing thumb pressure on the contact. device. There isalso a need 'for rendering the contact device inactive to prevent indavertent lighting oi the lamp through accidental manipulation of the contact device, as when the hand lamp is carried about in a tool kit, or is being stored or transported with its battery in place.

It is an object ci the present invention to satisfy any and all of the foregoing requirements by a contact means of simple and economical construction, easy to manufacture and assemble, and reliable in itsl action.

Other objects and advantages are hereinafter pointed out and will be cle-ar from the following detailed description, which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein` Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of Aa hand lamp embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the` switch or contact mechanism; l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; I

Figs. d and 5 are corresponding sections with the switch button rotated from the position illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 shows the slot inv the casing over which theswitch mechanism is mounted;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 7-7 ot Fig. 2; f

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on theline 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9` is a det-ail of the push but-ton spring; f

Figs. 10 to 14, inclusive, are details of the push button and of the disc in which-'it is mounted and by which it may be rotated.

In the embodiment illustrated, a plurality of dry cells lare arranged end to end with the upper or carbon electrode 2 of the topmost cell making contact with the inner terminal ot' the lamp 3, and the naked or zinc bottom of the lowermost cell making electrical connection through the coil spring 1 with a metal cap 5 threaded to a collar 6,'positioned on the lower end of the casing 7. This casing may be ot' fiber or other material commonly used in hand lamps, and may be providedk at its front end with a threaded collar 8 carrying' a flanged ring 9 by which the lens 10 and lam i reector 11 are held in position. Preferably the edge of reflector 11 is spaced from collar 8 and ring 9 to make the hand lamp non shortcircuiting, but these andother details of the device may be varied in many ways.

Connected with the outer terminal of the lamp 3, as through reiector l1, is a conductor 12, which may be` in the form of a flat stript running along the inner wall ot' casing 7 and secured near its lower end by a rivet 13. Thelower end of conductor 12 is preferably bent inthe form oit' a hook 14, which protrudes through an elongated slot in casing 7, as shown in F ig. 6. Positioned over this slot is a sheet metal housing 15 with an escutcheon plate 16 by which the housing may be suitably riveted to casing 7. The central portion of this housing is dishedoutwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and has a circular opening to receive the flanged inner edge of a rotatable disc: 17, wherein the push button 18 of the contact device is mounted and by which it may be rotated. The push button is preferably of hollow sheet metal with tour projections 19 pressed in the side walls thereof to engage with four recesses 20 in the inner edge kof the anged ydisc 17. The push button is thus free to move in and out,

but cannot rotate axially, except when disc 17 also rotates. The push button carries at its inner edge a flange or irregular shape, as shown in Fig. 11, with one side cut away entirely, with the opposite side 2O lett llat, and the two remaining sides 21 and 22 bent inwardly, shown in Fig. 10.

Movements ot the push button are controlled by a bent lea-t spring 2.3 (Fig. 9), the lower end ot which is 'fastened to the housing by a rivet 211, and the upper, broad, liat end ol which lits within the hollow push button 18 to urge that push button outward. The circular i'ace of the push button, against which spring bears, may be pressed outwardly, as shown in Fig. 11, to form apair ot intersecting grooves 25, 26, in which the outer end ot spring 23 is received, and by which accidental rot-ation of the push button is avoided; and ititurns from one position to the 4other with a snap.

lith the several parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, thumb pressure on push button 18 will bring the flat segment 2O ot its flange into engagement with the upturned end 1li ot the conductor from the lamp, and will thereby complete the circuit 'from the battery through the lamp, it being understood that spring 23, housing 15 and escutcheon 16 are electrically connected with the bottom ot' the dry cells as through a fiat strip 2T (Fig. 1), leading to the metal tittings at the bottom of the casing 7. It is in this way that the lamp is flashed, i. e., is lighted for such periods of time as it is convenient for the operator to hold his thumb on the push button. But it a permanent lighting of the lamp is desired, the operator slides his thumb along the edge ot disc 17 and thereby rotates the disc and with it the push' button, until one or the other ot the bent flanged segments 2l or 22 swings around over the bent and yielding end ot conductor 14 and rides thercover with a wiping action and so completes the circuit without the need 'for pressure on the push button. The outer edge of disc 17 may be knurled, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 13, to facilitate this rotation.

But it lighting of the lamp is to be avoided, as when the hand lamp is being shipped through the mails, or is being'carried as baggage or in the tool kit of an automobile, the push button can be rotated still 'further until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 5, withthe cut-away portion olf its lange over conductor 111, Thumb pressure on the push button in this axial position will not bring any part of the button into contact with conductor 1a to light the lamp. Rotation of the push button and its disc 17, though entirely. feasible from an operating standpoint, is not likely to occur accidentally, because ot the seating ot spring 23 in one ot the recesses termed in the inner circular part of the push button.

I am aware vthat details o'l" the switch mechanism may be varied within the scope ot the appended claims, and it will be apparent that the shape, size and materials oi: various parts of the hand lamp structure with which this contact device is used, may be altered in many ways without departing from the spirit oit my invention as delined by the appended claims.

l claim 1. A contact device tor battery hand lamps comprising a conductor, aA push button opposed thereto iior `l'lashing the lamp, said push button having a working tace asymmetrical with respect to said conductor, and means for rotating said push button to a position where its asymmetrical working` face will be ineffective to connect with said conductor when lighting ot the lamp is to be avoided.

2. A contact device tor battery handflamps comprising a push button, a contact opposed thereto, said push button having` a working face of irregular outline and means Ytor rotating said push button into continuing en gagement with its opposed contact when permanent lighting ot the lamp is desired.

A contact device for a battery hand lamp comprising a conductor, a push button opposed thereto for flashing the lamp, said push button being asymmetrical with respect to said conductor, and means tor rotating said push button to a. position where its asymmetrical working tace will be inetective to connect with said conductor when lighting of the lamp is to be avoided, or into a position where its asymmetrical working tace will be in continuing contact with said conductor.

1. A contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a push button, a conductor opposed thereto, said push but-ton being asymmetrical with respect to said opposed conductor and being adapted by rotation to assume ditl'erent positions with respect to said opposed conductor, in one ot which it may be pressed against said conductor to 4flash the lamp, in another et which it contacts with said conductor and lights the lamp without being depressed, and in another oit which it is ineffective to light the lamp, substantially as described.

5. A contact device itor battery hand lamps, comprising a flanged push button and a disc through which said push button passes and by which it may be rotated, a part ot said flange being recessed to render said push button ineffective when lighting ot the lamp is to be avoided.

6. A contact device 'for battery hand lamps, comprising a housing, a disc rotatably carried thereby, a push button passing through said disc and asymmetrically shaped for irregular shape permitting permanent or in-r termittent lighting of the lamp as desired, substantially as described.

8. A contact device for battery hand lamps v comprising a spring-pressed push button having an asymmetrical face, a contact opposed thereto, said push button being rotatable axially into a plurality of positions in one of which it may be depressed into engagement with said opposed contact to flash the lamp, and in another of which its depression Will be ineffective to reach said contact and light the lamp, substantially as described.

9. A contact device for battery hand lamps, comprising a push button having an irregular Working face and being rotatable axially into a plurality of positions, in one of Which it may be depressed to flash the lamp, in another of Which it will light the lampv W`ithout being depressed, and in another of which its depression will be ineffective to light the lamp, and a spring for controlling the movedescribed. Y

10. A contact device fory battery hand lamps, comprising a flanged push button and a disc through which said push button passes and by which it may be rotated, a part of said flange being cut away to render said push button ineffective when lighting of the lamp is to be avoided.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE D. GALLAGHER.

ments of' said push button, substantially as 

